SOUTH COUNTY : Water District Posts 39% Decline in Usage

Citing recent heavy rains and water conservation efforts, the water district that serves San Clemente and Capistrano Beach reported a 39% decrease in water usage during March compared to one year ago.

Customers of the Tri-Cities Municipal Water District used 656.7 acre-feet of water last month, compared to 1,071.8 acre-feet in March, 1990.

An acre-foot is 325,900 gallons of water, which is about the amount used annually by an average family of five.

Because the district met the 10% cut demanded by the Metropolitan Water District, the agency that supplies Southern California’s water districts, Tri-Cities received a $21,861 rebate from the MWD. That money will be used to prevent future rate increases, officials said.

Ray Woodside, general manager for the district, said that while some of the decrease was caused by the rain, it is hoped that consumers are also making conservation efforts.

“It’s anybody’s guess as to what portion of the decrease was caused by the rain,” Woodside said. “Obviously, people don’t water their lawns or wash their cars when it’s raining. But San Clemente is getting the word out to its customers to conserve, and we hope that is doing its job.”